
Lesson 11, for December 15, 1951
The Earth Desolated and Purified With Fire
MEMORY VERSE: "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same
word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of
ungodly men." 2 Peter 3:7.
STUDY HELPS: "The Creator and His Workshop," chapter 24; "The Great
Controversy," pages 653-661, 672-674 (new ed., pp. 735-743; 755-757) ; "The Story of
Redemption," pages 415-429.
INTRODUCTION: "At the coming of Christ the wicked are blotted from the
face of the whole earth,—consumed with the spirit of His mouth, and destroyed by
the brightness of His glory. Christ takes His people to the city of God and the
earth is emptied of its inhabitants. . . . The whole earth appears like a desolate
wilderness." "Here is to be the home of Satan with his evil angels for a thousand years.
Limited to the earth, he will not have access to other worlds, to tempt and annoy those
who have never fallen." "At the close of the thousand years, Christ again returns to
the earth. . . . As He descends in terrific majesty, He bids the wicked dead arise to
receive their doom." "As the New Jerusalem, in its dazzling splendor, comes down
out of heaven, it rests upon the place purified and made ready to receive it, and Christ,
with His people and the angels, enters the Holy City." "Satan, the mightiest of war-
riors, leads the van, and his angels unite their forces for this final struggle. Kings and
warriors are in his train, and the multitudes follow in vast companies, each under its
appointed leader. . . . By command of Jesus, the gates of the New Jerusalem are
closed, and the armies of Satan surround the city, and make ready for the onset." "The
whole wicked world stand arraigned at the bar of God, on the charge of high treason
against the government of heaven. They have none to plead their cause; they are with-
out excuse; and the sentence of eternal death is pronounced against them." "Fire comes
down from God out of heaven. The earth is broken up. The weapons concealed•in its
depths are drawn forth. Devouring flames burst from every yawning chasm. The very
rocks are on fire. The day has come that shall burn as an oven. The elements melt
with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein are burned up. The
earth's surface seems one molten mass,—a vast, seething lake of fire. . . . The
wicked receive their recompense in the earth." "The fire that consumes the wicked
purifies the earth. Every trace of the curse is swept away."—"The Great Contro-
versy," pages 657, 659, 662-664, 668, 672-674.
DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT
1.
Introduction and Ques. 1-3.
2.
Ques. 4-6, and read first half of "The
Creator and His Workshop," chap-
ter 24.
3.
Ques. 7-9, and read second half of
"The Creator and His Workshop,"
chapter 24.
4.
Ques. 10-12, and read "The Great
Controversy," pages 672-674.
5.
Read "The Great Controversy,"
pages 653-661.
6.
Read "The Story of Redemption,"
pages 415-529.
7.
Review entire lesson.
The Earth as It Now Is
1.
How does the present condition of the earth compare with
that at the close of creation week? How will plant and animal life
be affected as the day of the Lord approaches? Isa. 33:9; 51:6; Joel
1:15-18.
2.
What is the condition, of the inhabitants of the earth? What
is the cause of this condition? Isa. 24:4-12.
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